Lenons loue to her might eyther by perswasion of his death force affect of dignitie or other meanes winne her to consent to him especially for that shee hadde no parenteâ— to gouerne her nor hee neuer a faithfull friende to counsaile her The next day Alprinus and hée went out to méete Lucida whome they met at the entrance into the Forrest and after many kinde salutations past betwixt the two louers they altogether went backe into the Towne to Lucidaes Fathers house who that morning was departed to a Hauen about businesse of importance Ornatus was most kindly vsed of them remaining there vntill Alprinus had wedded Lucida but then hee thought it high time for him to depart And on a time finding Alprinus alone who had showne sufficient tokens of his friendship hee declared vnto him the whole truth of his forepassed loue to â—rtesia requesting his helpe for his passage into Phrygia Alprinus with great regard attended the whole discourse promising his vttermost assistance which quoth hee none can effect so well as Lucida whose father is a merchant and sendeth for ships into sundrie Prouinces who onely may pleasure you which charge I will vndertake and cause her to deale so â—ffectually with him that you shall attaine your desire Ornatus continued in good hope somewhat abandoning his former dispaire whome for a time wee wil leaue attending the time that some of the ships should depart to speake of Artesia his carefull Louer CHAP. X. How Lenon caused Artesia by violence to bee caried from Adellenaes house to the greene Fortresse of the miseries she indured there How shee was rescued from thence by Allinus and from him taken by Pyrates And how Allinus accused by Lenon for her death was imprisoned AFter that Artesia by Adellenaes carefull teÌ„â—ance had somewhat recouered her health Lenon began to visit her againe béeing vnable to indure the heauie burthen of burning loue thinking her sicknesse had procéeded from feare of Floretus not for want of Ornatus company finding an occasion saluted her in this sorte Most fairest Artesia my heart is so firmely inthralled to your beautie and my affectionâ— so admire your vertues that I am constrained to vtter my minde and to tell you I loue your Beautie Vertues and other most rare perfections wherewith you are adorned That I humblie sue to you for fauour and prostrate my selfe your thrall desiring to be inriched with those Iewels of inestimable price which hauing once attained I shall thinke I had more wealth in my possession theÌ„ all the world besides my selfe doth conteine Your vnkinde vnckles crueltie you néed not feare nor other misfortune neither haue you any parents to ouerrule you in making your choyse then vouchsafe to accept my sute and yéelde consent to my loue My Lord replied Artesia I thanke you for your good will but I know not how to accept of your loue being yet so far from knowing what it is that if I should but dreame thereof my heart would be out of quiet besides many cares continually attend the same and my meane estate so farre vnworthy thereof with innumerable other discontents and cares that I would make my selfe subiect vnto that I had rather a thousand times remaine in the estate I am now in Therefore I intreate you to settle your loue elsewhere more agreeable to your estate and fancie for I shall thinke my selfe most fortunate if I neuer fall into that labyrinth of disquiets but will during my life labour to kéepe my selfe free from loues bands Lenon would not take this for an answere but with many other spéeches continued his sute whom Artesia still put out of hope that he departed for that time excéedingly disconteÌ„ted leauing her no lesse disquieted in her thoughts how to auoid his loue In this sort did he daily visite her still growing more importunate amongst many other this conference past betwixt them Artesia quoth he how long shall I sue and be frustrated in my hopes by your vnkindnesse is your heart hardned against me Or am I of so base conditions that you cannot conceiue well of me Or is it possible you beare so hatefull a conceit of loue as you make shewe for then may I accuse mine eyes that haue betrayed my sences in making them your thrall then may I thinke my woe began when I first began to loue O Artesia be not so cruel as to punish me with this disdaine My Lord replied shée I séeke not your disquiet for at the first motion I tolde you my minde which shall neuer alter neither is my heart hardened against you more then others for I am determined not to loue then seeing you sée my intent it were a point of wisedome in you to shake off this fonde and foolish loue which is but a toy and an idle fancie that is bred by vanitie and doo not séeke to make loue growe without a roote for in my heart it shall neuer take roote but rather when it is rooted I will pull out heart and all but I will â—oote it out Then quoth be you are led by obstinacie and not by reason for that you are subiect to loue you cannot denie then why not me before another considering my loue is more faithfull then any other And I being most worthy why should I not be first accepted Artesia was wearie of his spéeches hauing her constant thoughts onely bent on Ornatus therefore to rid him from her she said It is in vaine to vse many words neither am I like to those that will at the first séeme â—oye but afterwards yéelde but I desire you to bée satisfied with that which I haue alreadie sayde that I cannot loue Faire Damosell how can I be satisfied with that vnreasonable answere when my life dependeth on your consent which your deniall will finish then giue mée leaue to say I cannot bée so satisfied but being extreamely refused I must growe perforce to be as vnreasonable in my request Consider you not what dignitie I might aduance you too by making you my wife consider you not the pleasures ioyes and abaundance of all contents you might enioy with me and how faithfully I loue you and with what humilitie I séeke your loue and yet notwithstanding you remaine obdurate My power is great that whereas I sue I might commaunde and by authoritie compell you to consent then bée not so ouerconceited as so obstinatelie to reiect your good And think that if my loue were not constant I might vse extreames which would soone alter your minde Suppose replied Artesia I were so péeuish as you terme me yet being borne frée I am not to be made bond by constraint and were you the greatest king in the world you could not rule the heart though you might by iniustice punish the bodie for it is not kingdomes wealth nor crueltie can turne hatred to loue but it may sooner turne loue into hatred But by your spéeches I may partly know your thought and the lippes vtter what the heart
heare them kéepe them secret and withall adde your helpâ— to further him which you may with safetie performe you shoulde doo him an excéneding pleasure and withall bee so highly rewarded and thankefully gratified that you shoulde thinke your labour very well imployed doo a béede of pittie and binde him to you in the perpetuall bands of kinde friendship Sir replied Adellena I knowe not â—he Gentleman yet I haue heard him much commended in whome if I coulde any way pleasure I woulde vse both diligence and secrecie promising you vpon my saith and credit if you will make mée acquainted with your minde I will either doo my good will to further him or else conceale what you shall commit to my priuitie Then said hée my maister not long since walking in yonder valley beheld Artesia faire Artesia daughter to Arbastus to whose beawtie hée is exceedingly inthâ—alled that vnlesse some meanes of comfort be found to ease his torments I feare mée it will in daunger his life whom you onely may pleasure by making his loue knowne to her in such sort as shall best agrée with your wisedome This is all and yet so much that the reuealing thereof may doo much harme And to effect such a contract might procure peace and vnitie â—wixt their parents Therefore I intreate your aide and furtherance herein with which good newes if I returne to him I knowe it will bréed no little comfort to his disquiet heart Sir said shée since I perceiue his loue is grounded vpon vertue not drawne thereto by any desire of reward I vndertake to bée his assistant therein and will to the vttermost of my best indeuours labour to procure his content Which this day I will in some sort put in execution And if you returne to mée to morrow you shall knowe her answere I wil said he and so they departed Ornatus hauing left her entered into many cogitations of his rash attempt accounting himselfe ouer credulous to commit his secrets to her priuitie of whose fidelitie hee had neuer made tryall sometimes comforting himselfe with hope of good euent and againe dispairing of comfort for that hée supposed Artesia would rather esteeme him as an enemie then a friend by reason of their parents hatred and therefore would the more hardly bee drawne to giue any credit to his sute And reuoluing a chaos of these and such like confused cogitations he attained his fathers house thinking the time tedious vntill his appointed méeting with Adellena which hée ouerpast with great care Adellena after her departure from him soone attained to Arbastus house vsing her selfe as shee had formerly done yet withall carefull how to execute the charge shée had in hand which shee could by no occasion vtter till after dinner when shée found Artesia all alone in the gardein insinuated her self into her company which Artesia kindly accepted entring into varietie of discourses and continuing some time in giuing certaine hearbes their proper names amongst the rest Artesia espied an hearbe with partie coloured leaues demanding of Adellena if shee knewe the name thereof which she told her she did not I haue oftentimes quoth Artesia seene this hearbe and it hath two prettie names it is by some called Loue in Idlenesse and by some Haris Case with that Adellena fetcht a déepe thogh counterfeit sigh which Artesia noting said What maketh you sigh to heare it named Haris Case Mary quoth shée one way because those two names so all agrée an other for by the same I call to remembrance the hearts griefe I heard a young man complaine of procured by loue which was not in idlenesse but I think in good earnest Why quoth Artesia can loue procure such hartes griefe to any and not rather content Yea said shee because the partie in loue hath no hope to attaine the good liking of the partie be loueth TheÌ„ quoth Artesia I account him a foole that will loue so deeply without hope of reward and that to bée rather fondnesse then true friendship that pleaseth his affections with such inequalities But I pray tel mée what is he into whose secrets you were so suddenly admitted Not admitted quoth she for vnawares I heard his complaints which afterwardes I promised him not to make any acquainted withall but the partie whome he so inâ—ierly loueth Then quoth Artesia I may not know neither doo I care for it is but a vanitie that troubleth ones cogitations Yes quoth shée you may and shall if you please know who he is conditionally you will neither be offended with me for telling you nor reueale what I shall impart Why quoth she am I the pretie or doth it any way concerne me that I should be offended If it be then kéepe your counsels vnreuealed for it will proue vnsauorie to my stomacke for be it far from me to be troubled with the vaine sutes of doting louers Yet let me answere quoth Adellena you heare too greeuous a conceit of loue which is the diuine puritie whereby heartes are vnited in vertue Witâ—out the which neither mortals can attaine heauen nor other creatures haue their being therefore not to bée abhorred and for that any shoulde loue your selfe can that be an offence to you but rather bée accepted in kinde sort wée should by nature loue them that loue vs then will you contrarie to nature yéeld hatred for loue For you indéed are the partie that is beloued and the partie that is so farre in loue with you euery way to be commended one way discoÌ„mended whose name I will not reueale then I hope I shall bréed no offence to your eares Doe so quoth Artesia for in concealing the same you please me if you will be welcome into my coÌ„pany vse no more of these speeches Had I thought quoth she they would haue bin offeÌ„sius I would not haue vttered them but in so doing I did but fulfill your request then at my request againe quoth shée giue ouer After this communication ended they parted Adellena home to to her house and Artesia to her supper and afterwards to her chamber where at first some colde thoughts of those spéeches past in her fancie but afterwards shée spent the rest of that night in quiet sléepe CHAP. III. How Adellena coÌ„ueled Ornatus letter into Artesias Casket and with what impatiencie Artesia tooke the same THe morning being newly approched Ornatus who had long expected the same arose and soone gate to Adellenas house where he arriued before shée was vp who hauing knowledge thereof soone came downe to him taking him to bée no other then Ornatus man to whome shée declared the very truth of all her spéeches hadde with Artesia Which nipt him at the heart but being put in some hope by her perswasions at last giuing her a purse full fraught with Gold in recompence of her paines past and to entice her to vndertake more hee saide as followeth Good Adellena be not dismaied to prosecute my sute for Artesias first frowne for I am not
if I should shew any signe that hée were liuing or neare shée would presently eschew my company which being as I am I may enioy thus am I voyd of all meanes of attayning her loue yet liuing as I am I shall still enioy her loue Why Ornatus thou hast better meanes to giue her knowldge of thy loue in this disguise then if thou liuedst as Ornatus Suppose thou shuldest make knowne to her what thou art thinkest thou shée would bewray thée considering thou offerest no other behauiour towardes her then that which agreeth with vertue Or what if shée did betray thée wert thou not better to indare the greatest extremitie by her don then pyne away with griefe in her absence Yes Ornatus in being as thou art thou art more happie and therefore maiest thou be in some better hope of comfort What if shée will not loue thée yet for thy good will shée cannot hate thée And though shée know what thou art shee will rather conceale thée then bewray thée then try whether she loueth thée or no but how Make my selfe knowne No. I will write a letter which I will leaue in some place where she may finde it and so by that meanes I shall sée whether shée will loue or no. And taking pen Inke and paper he wrote as foâ—â—oweth To the most vertuous Artesia the forsaken Ornatus sendeth humble greeting WEre you but so mercifull as fayre I woulde not dispaire of pittie Or were you willing to know my truth and loyaltie you woulde though not yeeld to my sute yet pittie mee I cannot vse protestations nor dissemble greefe but be you most assured that what proceedeth out at my lippes commeth from my heart xtremitie maketh mee ouerbolde and dispaire maketh me more desperate in vttering my minde I cannot chuse but say I loue you for that I loue indeed I cannot set foorth my loue with fyled termes but in plaine truth protest that my loue is constant loyall vertuous immoueable and though you hate I must loue and though you for euer denie to loue yet will I persist in constancie for the woorst I can indure is death and that my soule alreadie inwardly feeleth I haue forsaken my parents friends and all to become acceptable to you for whilest I was Allinus sonne you did hate me then I beseech you now that I am not Allinus sonne nor Ornatus pitty mee For without your pitie I die litle can my death profit you but letting me liue you shall for euer enioy a faithfull seruant So most vertuous Artesia I commit my cause to your wise consideration Your inseparablie neyther Ornatus nor himselfe but your poore seruant When hee had written this Letter and sealed the same the next morning he laid it in a place of the garden where he knowe Artesia would walke And from thence comming to her chamber he found her readie to go forth Artesia welcommed Syluia kindely and forth they went together and walking vp and downe a prittie while Artesia espied the white paper and desirous to sée what it was took it vp reading the superscription maruelled what the contents shuld be and how it should come there and turning to Syluian sée you this letter it is directed to me I maruell how it should come here vnlesse it were laide of purpose well howsoeuer that was I will reade the contents and you shall be partaker of them When she had redde the same and well vnderstood that it was Ornatus at the first shee was so excéedingly vâ—xed that she said I now perceiue that Ornatus was wiser then I tooke him to bée for I sée he hath committed no outrage vpon himselfe but wiselie will trie me first and if I will not yéelde to loue him what will hée doo marrie returne to his father againe This is Adellenaes doing and according as I thought they are agréed shée left this letter here and her may I blame and not him For did not she promise him to do it he would neuer of himselfe attempt it Syluian I pray thée counsaile me what I should do herein for my heart is oppressed with many thoughts that I will not vtter vntill I know thy minde Syluian thus answered since you haue giuen me licence to speake that which my heart thinketh first I say iâ— Ornatus loueth according as he protesteth as no doubt but he doth you haue good reason to pittie him for that by your owne report he is euery way worthy thereof which if you doo you shal be sure of a constant friend preserue his life and make vnitie betwixt your parents As for Adellena if it were her déede she did but the part of a friend but it was very vnlikely for that shée was not here since yesterday Neither can I think any man can dissemble so much as to make these protestations and yet be false For his words in my fancie beare an euident likeliehood of truth Therefore if I may counsaile you yéeld to that which is vertuous and in so dooing you shall purchase your owne good his content and perpetuall quiet to both your families Would you haue mée then quoth shée yéelde to loue mine enemie How is hee your enemie quoth Syluian when hée loueth you Hée is mine enemie because his father hating me how can he loue me Nay rather quoth Syluian his father not louing you how can hee chuse but loue you because he seeth them hate you that are worthy to be beloued besides their haâ—red being vniust it sheweth his vertue the more to loue those his parents hate and it is commonly séene where there is hatred betwixt the parents the children haue loued most dearely as in common experience it is séene haue you not red the Histories of Pryamus and Thysbe Romeo and Iuliet and many other whose loue was the more constant by so much the more their parents hatred was deadly I remember such Histories quoth Artesia but what was the end of their loue was it not most miserable I grant it was quoth Syluian which was procured by their parents crueltie but not their loue wherein notwithstanding they tooke such felicitie that they rather chose to die togither then to be parted which argueth that the enmity twixt parents caÌ„not break off loue twixt the children yet might such tragical euents haue bin preuented by wisedom But how know I said Artesia whether Ornatus loue bée so constant or no Can you haue any greater proofe thereof then his own letters the forsaking of his parents and liuing peraduenture in pennurie but if you doubt of that once againe trie him Well said Artesia I asked but thy counsaile but in stead thereof thou vsest perswasion but séeing thou art so forward to doo me good which I hope is thy intent if thou wilt keep my counsell thou shalt know both my minde and what I intend Assure your selfe quoth Syluian I will rather loose my life then prooue vnfaithfull Then said shée I confesse to thée Syluian that loue
hath made entrance into my heart that I would willingly both pittie Ornatus and grant him his request for that with often remembring him I cannot forget him neither doth any thought please mee but when I thinke of him But there are so many slips to hinder our loue that though I loue him I shall neuer enioy him For should my parents know hereof they woulde prie so warily into my actions that it were impossible for mée once to haue a sight of him whome I doo scarce remember I haue so seldome séene him You may quoth Syluian both loue him and inioy him and since you haue begun to like of him he being worthy thereof and equalling you in affection increase that loue might I but once come to speake with him I woulde not doubt but â—ffect all things with such secrecie that you should with quiet enioy him Well quoth Artesia I commit all to you my life for that dependeth on my loue being willing to doo any thing that shall not disagrée with modestie Destring you to kéepe my counsells secret for to bewray them may indaunger both his and my life After many other spéeches past betwixt them Adellena entered the garden Artesia espying her at the first thus gréeted her God-morrowe Adellena I know not whether I may salute thée as a friend or a priuie foe for that by thy meanes I am brought into bandage I pray thée tell mée without dissembling which I feare mée thou canst doo too well when thou sawest Ornatus and yet I know thy answere before I aske Dost thou not know this letter didst thou not hide it in this garden that I might finde it did not Ornatus hire thee to say that hée was departed from his fathers whilest he lyeth at home in thy house I knowe thy aunswerâ— will bee no but howe may I beléeue that Doest thou not likewise say hée loueth mée when thou knowest the contrarie and doest but dissemble If thou harborest any vertue in thee tell mée the truth and dissemble not for in doing so thou shalt greatly conâ—ent me discharge thy conscience and peraduenture doe Ornatus a good turne Adellena hearing her spéeches was so astonish at theyr strangenesse that for a good while she stood as one sencelesse but at the last she made this answere Your demaunds are such as that I know not how to answere them but heauens punish mée if I dissemble I saw not Ornatus since the time hée came to mée to know how you accepted the letter I conueyed into your Casket For that Letter I am altogither ignorant therein neither did I euer sée the same before now I neuer spake with Ornatus sawe Ornatus or heard from him since I last gaue him your answere neither doo I know where hee is but this I know that hée is not to bée found but poore Gentleman languisheth in loue which I dare protest loueth you most dearely neither neede you misdoubt that hée is absent or thinke that hée is hidden at my house for it is too true hée hath taken such gréefe at your vnkindnesse as will I feare me indaunger his life I would it were not so but that he were at my house then would I counsaile him rather to forget to loue then indaunger his life thereby May I beléeue quoth Artesia that this thou sayest is true Heauens let me liue no longer quoth Adellena if I dissemble Then quoth Artesia howe should this Letter be conueyed into this garden but by himselfe With that the Christall teares fell from her eyes CHAP. VI. Howe Ornatus loue was hindered by the newes of Arbastus death Howe Floretus to attaine Sylulans loue both confest hee slew Arbasius and intended to poyson Artesia TO augment Artesiaes teares a messenger hastily running came in and brought this newes vttering the same with a gastly countenaunce O Artesiâ— heare my tragicke discourse your Father as you know rode forth this morning to chase the fearefull Déere who wandring from his company at last by his long stay was mist and all of vs comming together studied amongst our selues what should be become of him at last wée were commaunded by Floretus your Vnckle to poste seuerall wayes in search of him whom at last we found most gréeuously wounded and dead Artesia hearing his words with suddaine gréefe fell downe deade Which when Sylnian perceiued caught her in his armes rubbing her pale chéekes vntill shée was reuiued againe Then they conueyed her to her bed in such extremitie with that suddaine gréefe that they feared to loose her life which exceedingly tormented Syluian to behold Then was there such an vprore in Arbastus house as al séemed in vtter dispaire one coniecturing this an other that of Arbastus death but all in generall concluding that it was done by Allinus in reuenge of his brothers death Arbastus wife likewise conceiued such sorrow at this vnexpected euent that with very gréefe thereof shée dyed Artesia with both together was readie to yéelde vp her latest breath and had done so had shée not beene carefullie preserued by Syluian and Adellena Who by their counsaile and indeuours pacified the extremitie of her perplexitie This newes was soone spred into most places of the countrey but because there was no iust proofe of the murtherer there was no great question made thereof Arbastus hauing neuer a trustie friende to prosecute reuenge Floretus now tooke vpon him to rule and gouerne all that belonged to Arbastus as his brother and soone caused him and his Lady to be worthily interred and built a sumptuous monument in their remembrance Which being ouerpast he came againe to Artesia as in the meane time he had oftentimes done and finding her very weake vsed many spéeches to comfort her giuing such as were about her speciall charge to minister all things necessarie to restore her to her former health Séeming to bee most carefull of her guard promising and protesting to bée vnto her instead of a Father Syluian all this while was excéedinglie gréeued in mind to sée his loue growne so weake and in such danger of life not once forsaking her in all the time of her siknesse but continually comforting her with heartie spéeches carefull tendance not so much as once departing her chamber but taking excéeding pains to pleasure her that shée tooke great comfort in her supposed Syluian who oftentimes would steale a swéete kisse from Artesiaes lips which she permitted taking the same to procéede from a curteous minde when Syluian did it of déepe affection accounting the estate wherin hée liued to excéed all ioyes and his delight past compare profering many familiarities that Artesia tooke in kind part which otherwise she would haue refused had shée knowne whom her companion Syluian had beene Ornatus marueiled that all this time she spake not of him which he deuised to vrge her to do by many occasions but these extremities had bannished all remembrance of him out of her minde Which excéedingly tormented Ornatus fearing this delaye
would some way turne to his ill That wheras before time he was pleasant mery and oftentimes would mooue Artesia to myrth by his disporte now that humour was alienated and he became continually melancholly and sad oftentimes when Artesia was from him getting into a sollitary place to bewayle his hard fate Which shée noted and woondred at thinking the same had procéeded from being so long absent from his countrey and friends One day she found her déemed Syluian sollitarie alone and comming vnawares heard her vtter these words Oh how vnhappy am I to loue and not to be beloued Syluian espying her left off to whom Artesia said Why how now Syluian are you in loue can it be that your mind is attainted with that venemous serpent that poysoneth the sences altereth the complexion troubleth the head and heart Shake it off and cast it out of your sight for it neuer did any good but hath brought many to perpetuall miserie Since you haue ouerheard me quoth Syluian I must néeds confesse I am in loue which doth not any way worke any such effect in me as you speake off but I take all comfort therein my sences heart head all my parts take excéeding pleasure therein Why then quoth Artesia sit you thus pensiuely alone as it séemeth to me bewayling your estate to be in loue I do not quoth Syluian sorrow that I am in loue but that I am not beloued againe for being in loue I haue vowed to liue so euer and sooner shall end What hard-harted man said Artesia is he the knowing you loue him wil not loue you againe Such is my harâ— estate sayd Syluian that the partie whom I loue knoweth I loue and yet causelesly doth hate me neither am I farre absent from him but inioy his company without which my life would decay Is he in this house you loue can it bée you are intangled since you came hither No quoth Syluian I loued before I came hither How can that be when you are a stranger and cast in this country by shipwracker eyther you must néedes be some other then we take you for otherwise these things are impossible But if you dare put trust in my secrecie impart your minde to mée and I promise you I will do the best I caÌ„ to further your loue You may do much therein quoth Syluian and none more then your self but I beséech you pardon me for reuealing the same before you assure me of one thing which you may do without any harm to your self and be not offeÌ„ded with me if I ask you Tel me what it is quoth she I will answer you Then said Syluian I wold first know whether you loue Ornatus or no With the she started saying Ay me that name bringeth death to my heart thou woundest my souls with gréefe to heare him named Dost thou thinke I haue cause to loue not rather aboue al men to hate him dost thou not sée my father lately murdred by him or some by his appointment and thinkest thou I can loue so deadly a foe by whom I am brought to this miserie No assure thy selfe Syluian according as I haue iust cause I do hate him as the greatest enemie I haue Whose very name affrighteth mée with terror and if thou hadst loued me as I was perswaded thou didst thou wouldst not haue troubled my heart with that omnious name And yet for all this mischiefe that he hath done me didst thou not see how he sued for my loue and had so much preuailed that my heart beganne to yéeld to his sute With that she pulled out of her pocket the letter saying these lynes the trutes of his dissimulation were actors in his villainie with that she tare them into a thousand péeces Syluian séeing the same was readie to sound with gréefe breathing soorth a hart burning â—igh said O how is poore innocencie suspected And being readie to say more was disappointed by Floretus comming who euen then entred the garden and finding them out vsed many curteous spéeches to theÌ„ both especiallly coÌ„forting Artesia To whom he said Dear coozin since these mishaps caÌ„not be remedied let wisdome now ouersway your passionate sorrow and with patience remit all further gréefe for things past cure are not to be lamented but now commit the care of your safety to my trustines the will as tenderly regard your good as mine owne life Therfore be of comfort whatsoeuer you desire shal be to the vttermost accomplished Artesia yeelded him many thanks and so they went in Artesia being alone by her selfe could by no means forget what spéech she had with Syluian eyther thinking shée did dissemblâ— or was some other then she seemed or else that she was in loue with Floretus Then she remembred her spéeches saying Howe is innocencie suspected Which she knew she spake by her accusing of Ornatus which braue her into many doubtfull cogitotions and troubled her sences excéedingly but by reason of her little suspect of Syluians disguise shée could not iudge any thing thereof Syluian likewise not daring to offend her and louing her so dearely that hee could not indure to sée her disquietted vsed no more spéeches tending to loue but frequenting her company wherein hée tooke his whole felâ—ciâ—ie accounting himselfe most happie to liue and enioy her swéete presence béeing out of hope to attaine her loue refreshing his heart with many sollaces of sweete delight in beholding that which shée little thought he had noted Many daies continued Syluian in this disguise in which time Arbastus death was almost forgotten And Floretus drawn by Syluians manifolde vertues began exceedingly to affect her shewing such kinde behauiour towards her that she suspected that which afterwards she found true for Floretus coÌ„cealing his loue felt the flame to burne the more inwardly and liuing in that scorching pennariâ— thought it better for him to manifest his loue theÌ„ by hyding the same augment his torment Assuring himselfe to obtain his desire for that Syluian was a stranger far froÌ„ friends and without his friendship likelie to come to pouertie which hée thought woulde bée a meanes of importance to drawe her to like of him besides hée thought that hée might do as hée list with Artesia for that shée was onelye in his custodie And on a day finding Syluian alone in the garden comming to her with a submisse behauiour he said as followeth My dearâ— Syluian I would gladlie vtter a matter of an importance if you will vouchsafe me gentle audience So it is fayre Damosell that my heart hath long time béen inthralled to your bewtie which I haue retrained to vtter fearing to be refused but knew you how faithfully my heart is deuoted to your seruice and with what torment I haue concealed the same you would pittie me My estate is sufficient to maintaine you well though not so worthily as you deserue you shall liue with me in contented ease and haue so faithfull and constant a friend
compared to the riches of your loue O heauenly Artesia how fortunate haue you made Ornatus how haue you blest Ornatus how full of ioy is Ornatus by your swéete consent was euer any so vnworthie so exalted for his kindnesse and loue I wil performe more then my tongue can vtter and bee more faithfull then your heart can wish Then began they to imbrace each other and to surfet themselues in the sollaces true loue yeeldeth He sometimes lending her a kisse and she with interest paying two for one for one swéet looke two and so many imbracings as are not to be explicated their hands and hearts ioyned in such firme bandes of true affection as is not to be dissolued and surâ—etting with such excéeding content as is impossible to be described These stormes of loue somewhat mittgated they began to consult of their daungerous estate and to deuise how to preuent the intended mischiefe In this place they continued some two dayes in excéeding content still expecting to heare from Floretus who the third day fearing to trust any with a matter of such waight came himselfe to bring the potion yet in shew of kindnes to visite Artesia deliuering the same to Syluian willing her the next night to giue it her which she promised him faithfully to accomplish When he was gone Artesia came to Ornatus to knowe what newes Floretus brought who tolde her all and shewed her the poyson in a glasse which he had charged should be giuen to her the next day With that Artesia beganne to wayle and exclaime against her Vnckle in most extreame sort But Ornatus intreated her to cease such vaine griefe which could not hurt him but her selfe promising her to preuent the same if shée would follow his counsell which she willingly yeelded vnto Then quoth hée let vs presently depart hence to Adellenaes house which you know is not farre off who you know is agreed with vs alreadie where I will leaue you and returne Which said while the seruants were absent vpon some speciall occasion they departed with little labour arriuing at Adellenas house who was readie to receiue them and after many farwels Ornatus returned backe to the Lodge And when it was supper time the seruants brought vp meate but Ornatus tolde them that Artesia was scarce well and therefore they would not sup that night And being alone by himselfe he studied what excuse to make for Artesias absence when Floretus should come spending that night in much care and many vnquiet cogitations which tooke away his sleepe Floretus was no sooner returned from the Lodge but hée met Lenon who of purpose came to méete Artesia whom Floretus kindly saluted maruelling much wherefore hée came to ease which doubt Lenon said My friend Floretus I come to visite the faire Artesia to whose beawtie I am inthralled not as regarding her wealth but her sweete loue of whome you onely haue the gouernment therefore I pray befriend me so much that I may come to spéech with hâ—r Floretus was so â—xcéedingly amazed to heare his speeches that he could not tell what answere to make nor how to excuse her absence Lenon séeing him in such a studie continued his spéeches saying Floretus be not vnwilling I should match with Artesia for that shall no way binder your preferment who think peraduenture the longer shée liueth vnmarried the more wealth you shall get by her but to rid you of that doubt be but a meanes to win her consent and I vowe by heauen I will not take one peniworth of Arbastus substance from you but fréely giue it you all For it is not her possessions I regard but her loue therefore I pray resolue me of your minde herein My Lord replied hée your offer is so bountifull besides my dutie vrging me I am readie to performe your will to the vttermost of my power I thanke you good Floretus quoth Lenon then I pray thée bring mée to her for my loue is impatient of delay My Lord replied he that can I not do instantly for Artesia some two daies past with the straunge damosell Syluian departed thence and are nowe at the Lodge whither if you please to to take such entertainment as this place yéeldeth wée wil both goe to morrow morning Agreed quoth Lenon I will accept your profer When the time of rest was come Floretus being alone by himselfe entred into these cogitations What inconueniences hast thou runne into Floretus Thou hast hyred one to murther Artesia in hope to get her wealth and made Syluian acquainted with thy counsell which wealth thou maiest now attaine by preseruing her life and besides winning her to loue Lenon thou shalt finde him thy faithfull friend for euer What wert thou then best to doo if thou shouldest murther her hée would make enquirie of her death and so thou bée vndone If not then wil Syluian bée displeased and so bewray thy drift that the mischiefes thou by folly hast runne into are so intricate that thou knowest not which way to shunne them Were it not better to saue her life and winne her Loue for Lenon then to poyson her and so to die my selfe If I saue her life Syluian will be discontented what of that then let Sylùian smart for it for if she wil not bée contented with that I shall doo she shall neuer liue to bewray my counsell And therefore wil I first trie her and finding any suspition thereof I will stabbe her my selfe whose death I may eastlier answere then Artesias Early the next morning Lenon and he rode to the Lodge where no sooner arriued but he met with Syluian to whom he said How now Syluian I haue newes of importance to bewray to thée Lenon whome thou here beholdest is sonne to the King who is déeply in loue with Artesia and hath giuen me assurance of all Arbastus liuings if I can win Artesia to match with him now I thinke it good to deferre our purpose as concerning her death vntil wée haue made triall whether shée wil loue him or no. Which if we can effect we shall be quit of so cruel a déed enioy her heritage and haue an assured friend of Lenon whilest we liue therefore let me know your opinion herein Syluian was excéedingly amazed to heare his spéeches thinking that if he did tel him where Artesia was she should be wrested from his possession and so himselfe disappointed of her loue and on the other side he thought what michiefe would arise if he should say he had already giuen her the poyson yet his loue ouer-maistring the feare of any daunger made him say All this I like but Floretus it is now too late for I haue caused Artesia to drink the poyson you deliuered me and she is dead which was of such force that all her bodie purpled into blisters and swellings which because I knew would bewray what we had done I tooke her bodie and conueyed it into a deepe pit where it is impossible to
intendeth doo with mée what you will I cannot loue neither will I loue you were you Monarche of all the world Leanon was so much gréeued and vexed at her spéeches that hée was readie to tare his hayre his loues extremitie making him rather madde then sober that presently hée departed saying no more but this Farewell hard-harted Artesia Shée was glad hée was gone presently telling Adellena all that had past betwixt them and how peremptorilie shée had answered his importunate sute telling Adellena that since Ornatus was for her sake bannished shee would neuer loue any but him and preserue her life in hope to sée him once againe but the first knowledge of his death should bée the latest date of her life both shee and Adellena thinking that Lenon would neuer returne to prosecute his loue But hée beeing come to the Pallace betooke himselfe to his chamber raging more like a mad man then a passionate louer sometimes swearing cursing and stamping yéelding so much to that mad fancie that in the end he vowed to obtaine Artesiaes loue though he hazarded his life honour and good name that ranging in this sort vp and downe his Chamber hée espied an olde Gentlewoman named Flera going by his windowe whom hée called vnto him and thus saide Flera because I haue assured confidence in thy fidelitie and purpose to reward thée liberally I craue thy counsaile and with it thy consent to be faithfull in concealing my secretes and very diligent in dooing my commaunde The olde hagge making an euill fashioned lowe curtesie sayd My deare sonne Lenon be it to do you good I will hazard my life and rather bée torne into a thousande peâ—ces then reueale what you shall vouchsafe to tell me Then quoth hée counsaile me which way I should begin to win a faire Damosels loue Marrie my Lord quoth she giue her knowledge thereof and then with faire speeches woe her iâ— that will not preuaile giue her gold and there is no doubt that faire bayse will catch her No no quoth he these are of no force I haue made my loue knowne to her by humble sutes submisse behauiours and by all kinde of curteous meanes intreated her consent yet for all that she remaineth obstinate she is rich and therefore gold with her is of no force she is fayre vertuous noble and chaste then what engine hast thou to vndermine that chastifie Meanes enough quoth she peraduenture shée is ruled by others counsell which may preuaile more then your sute but might I haue accesse vnto her I would not doubt but to alter her minde for being faire young and rich she cannot chuse but delight to be praysed subiect to loue and therefore yéeld to desire Doest thou thinke quoth he thou couldest winne her wert thou her kéeper I warrant you quoth she I would doe it Then shalt thou bée her kéeper sée that thou beest to morrowe at my fathers Castle in the gréene forrest where to morrow by night this Damosell shall be whose name is Artesia daughter to Arbastus lately dead vse her kindly let her want nothing nor be not in any wise knowne that thou knowest mée nor that the Castle belongeth to my Father nor speake not of loue in any case vse her in this sort vntill I speake with thee for thou onely shalt haue her custodie Flera being gone about her businesse be fouÌ„d out two of his trustiest seruants to whom he imparted both his mind and intent willing them the next morning with spéed to go to Adellenaes house and either by force or faire meanes to take Artesia from thence and carrie her vnto the gréene â—ortresse in the gréen Forrest where they should find Flera â—o to whose custodie they should commit Artesia and themselues should remaine there to prouide all things necessarie vntill his comming Early the next morning the seruants rode to Adellenas house whereinto they boldly entred and comming to Artesia first spake her faire but afterwards tolde her shee must goe with them iâ— not willingly by constraint Artesia then began to buâ—st into teares wéeping and lamenting excéedingly vpon her knées intreating them not to offer by violence to carry her from thence but if they would néedes that they would take Adellena with them but all was in vaine for they constrained her to mount vp béehinde one of them and away they rode in great haste this heauie parting was so sodaine that Artesia coulde not a bid Adellena adue but with teares nor Adellena speake a word for griefe their sences being so farre confounded with care that their harts were readie to burst therewith Artesia thought this was Lenons dooing and therefore sorrowed the more not that hée vsed her vnkindly but that hée loued her not fearing his crueltie but his lust not regarding what crueltie hée could vse by hatred but fearing his loue would make him seeke her dishonour Béeing come to the Fortresse and committed to the custodie of Flera the olde woman began to speake her faire and vse her kindly yet her verie wordes and countenaunce bewraying her guiltie conscience to whome Artesia would not speake a word least thereby shée should giue her occasion to prate meate shée brought vnto her but shée refused to taste thereof and when shée came to her Chamber shee laie on the rushes refusing the bedde tormenting her heart with care vexing her head with thought and busying her sences or meditating to what issue this vsage would sorte sometimes calling on Ornatus name for comfort sometimes accusing Lenon of barbarous crueltie and cursing her crooked destenies vttering such plaints as would haue turned tyrants to ruth wéeping her eyes drie and her garments wet tearing her hâ—ire and tormenting euery one of her sences with vexation refusing sléepe rest ease or quiet The next day Lenon came thither asking Flera howe shée faâ—ed who tolde him that she would not speake eate nor sleepe but â—ared like one madde and sencelesse But let her alone quoth shée and you shall sée this fitâ—e will soone bée ouer the extremitie whereof being once past I will vse my skill to trie her Lenon giuing order to haue all thinges necessarie prouided departed Dinner time being come and meate set before Artesia she refused to eate likewise supper time being come she determined to do the like Which Flera perceiuing said Fayre gentlewoman to behold your outward appearence would make one iudge your minde harbored many hidden vertues but I comparing your actions with your apparant shewe suppose that you are either mad or carelesse this behauiour to séeme dumbe to refuse sustenaunce and to refraine from sleepe are instances of follie not of wisedome What if you speake what if you did eate or take rest should you be euer the worse or refraining can that doo you good or banish griefe and not rather make your estate worse doo you thinke to preuent any thing by dooing your selfe harme no fonde Childe eate thy meate and preserue thy â—fie for liuing thou maiest attaine thy desires
had giuen himselfe many gréeuous wounds enforcing him to yéeld Who taking from him all that was good constraining Aâ—tesia to go with them and hasted to their ships when hauing conueyed her aboord to preuent the worst hoysed saile and launched into the déepe Then was Allinus left in most miserable estate with all spéed hasting to his house Lenons seruants likewise were by that time it was mindnight gotten to the Pallace and called their Lord out of his bedde to cerâ—ifie him what was happened who presently mounted himselfe and with a sufficient company rode to the Fortresse and entring found Flera slaine and all else fled then began he to muse who should do that déed and what they should be that had carried away Artesia by this time it was day-light and Lenon rested in excéeding vâ—xation to be dispossest of his bewâ—ifull Loue yet he commanded his men to poste by companies seueral waies if it were possible to finde those that had done that deed whilst he himselfe remained there bewailing that misforâ—une his seruants had not rode far but by the light of the day which discouereth things done in darknesse they found Allinus two seruants whose dead bodies they carried back to the fortresse Lenon séeing them presently assured himselfe that Allinus was a partie in this action and that hee had taken away Artesia to séeke her death To preuent wihch mischiefe as he thought then or neuer to be done hee presently rode home to the Court and humbly vpon his knée intreated his father to graunt him licence with a sufficient power to rescue Artesia from Allinus who intended to murder her declaring how he himselfe found her in Adellenas house and how that he had placed her in the gréene Fortresse to defend her from Allinus and others crueltie being left fatherlesse and how that night Allinus had taken her from thence by treason and intended no lesse then her ruine The king hearing his sonnes speeches graunted his request Then presently diuers to the number of tâ—ree hundreth men with as much speed as could possibly be armed themselues and in haste with Lenon went to Allinus Castle into which they violently and vnawares to any within entred Lenon presently laide hands on Allinus whom he â—ounde sore wounded asking him for Artesia who thinking some of his seruants had before bewrayed what he had done presently confest the truth of all both of his intent and howe Artesia was rescued from him but by whom hee knewe not and howe at that time two of his seruants were slaine Lenon giuing no credit to his spéeches neuer left till hée had searched the whole Castle throughout but not finding her accused Allinus that he had murthered her commaunding his men to binde him and carry him as a Traytor to the Court. Who being come before the King confest the truth as before he had done vtterly denying that hee neuer sought Artesias death but her safetie but yet notwithstanding the King was so ouerruled by Lenons accusations and perswasions that he committed him to prison his goods and lands were seized vppon as a Traytor his Ladie wife turned out of doâ—res in poore array and al crueltie and outrage committed against his seruantes and kinâ—folkes and commaundement giuen that none should succour them Allinus being in prison laden with yrons and hardly vsed yet endured that affliction patiently but hearing of his Ladies calamitie and how she was vaiustly constrained to beg that all her liâ—e long had bene tenderly brought vp thought those sorrowes woulde soone bring her to an ende and entered into many bitter lamentations for her and his owne misfortune which were too tedious to recite his seruants were constrained to disguise themselues and trauell into farther places of the Countrey to liue vnknowne otherwise none would haue entertained them His Ladie was compelled to séeke out kinswomen of hers that liued in the countrey of whom she was entertained and there liued a poore life far differing from her former life which she tooke most patiently And thus was Allinus house defaced his goods and lands seized vpon himself imprisoned his wife in poore estate his seruants driuen to wander from place to place readie ofâ—en to perish for want of succour and all his dignitie turnd to miseâ—ie onely by Lenons malice who had no ground for those accusations he vsed against him but onely of a vaine suppose and mad franticke affection that ouerruled his heart which so much preuailed with him that he sought by all meanes he could his death CHAP. XI How Ornatus gatte shipping into Phrygia Howe Allinâ—s was set al libertie and how the Pyrates cast lottes who should possesse Artesia ORnatus all this while remained in the countrey of Natolia with Alprinus and Lucida in great griefe for want of meanes to depart into Phrygia to sée what was become of his deare Loue Artesia but being a long time frustrated by reason none of the ships that were at sea came home he began to dispaire thinking that Artesia supposing him to be dead by reason of his long absence would now marry Lenon which griefe and many other doubtfull thoughts opprest his heart with such passion that he began to waxe sicke and afterwards fel into an excéeding feuer which held him for the space of thrée moneths in great extremitie which surely had abridged his dayes had hee not bene most carefully nourisht by Lucida who had an especiall care of his good During which time of his sicknesse certaine ships of Phrygia arriued on the coast of Natolia some fourtéene miles distant from the Towne where Ornatus was of which he had intelligence by certaine Factors belonging to Lucidas Father which newes reuiued his spirits with ioy before drouping with care that within few dayes he recouered his former health which greatly reioyced Alprinus and Lucida whose hearts were linked vnto him in hands of vnseparable friendship who likewise dealt so effectually for him that they attained warrant for his passage and furnished him with all kinde of necessaries and sufficient store of gold to beare his charges Lucida likewise intreating her father to agrée with the Phrygian Marchants for his conuoy for that himselfe would not be knowne disguising himselfe into the habit of a Pilgrime whicâ— kinde of people might without disturbance passe vnexamined and without molestation And the time of his departure being come he tooke his leaue of Lucida Who tooke his departure with such excéeding sorrow that the abundance of her flowing teares stopt the passage of her spéech Alprinus likewise with many curtesies bad him farewell and wished his prosperous successe Thus departed he the confines of Natolia where he was in so short space so well beloued and so kindly vsed that had not his loue to Artesia and hope to finde her in safety constrained him he could haue bene contented to haue spent the terme of his life in that place The Merchants of Phrygia had not sailed many dayes but they arriued in a hauen some
gone but Phylastes taking the ring of Artesia went vnto the place where Ornatus was and comming to the Iayler tolde him that hée must deliuer Ornatus to his custodie shewing him the Princes signet as his warraÌ„t the Iailer séeing the same and knowing that the Pilgrim was of great credit trust with LenoÌ„ made no doubt but presently deliuered Ornatus vnto him both departing together to Artesia who séeing her beloued so fortunately deliuered shead teares of ioy for his escape After salutations in the kindest sort past Ornatus declared what hée intended and howe hée was betrayed by Ortonus Phylastes then counselled Ornatus that night to conuey Artesia from theÌ„ce vnto some place of better securitie who sometimes thought to carrie her to Adellenaes house but he thought Lenon wold misdoubt that place at last he concluded to conuey her to her castle where Arbastus her father dwelt which was still kept to her vse by certaine of her fathers seruants Foth Artesia Phylastes liked â—his well and therefore leauing the court they departed thitherwards Artesia not woonted to trauell could scarcely indure to holde out but by their help they arriued there at midnight knocking awaked the porâ—er who looking ouer the battlemeÌ„ts demanded who was below at that vnreasonable time of the night My friend quoth Ornatus it is Artesia that commeth in time of her most need for harbor in this place The Porter viewing her well by the bright light of Scynthia knew her calling vp the rest of his fellowes came running down and opened the gate where he and the rest receiued her in with great ioy Ornatus was glad of this happie escape but yet excéeding sad that he could not assist his father against Lenon but that he must perforce be absent from his rescue which filled his heart with such care that all that night he could take no rest and though hee enioyed Artesias company without controll he could harbor no rest or quiet to his distempered thoughts that Phylastes demanded the cause of his sadnesse My assured friend Phylastes quoth hée the remembrance of my fathers estate and feare of his mishap maketh me thus sad and griefs excéeding torment possesseth mee that I cannot be present to aide him against Lenon that by towardly malice not with valour will seeke his ruine before any others O were I but present to defend him though I offended none my heart would bée at quiet Artesia hearing his speeches said Good Ornatus do not againe hazard your selfe as you lately did for had not fortune and Phylastes wisedome assisted vâ— both your life and with it mine had bene cast away My dearâ— Artesia quoth hée that misfortune hath taught mée wisedome and by remembring it I wil learne to eschâ—e such mischiefes and know whome I trust therefore I beséech you grant I may once againe go to do my â—utie in ayding my father which I will nowe do without daunger for that I wil make none priuie to that I intend nor attempt more then I am able to performe Artesia seeing howe fully hée was vent to goe preferd his will before her owne desire knowing her dutie not to contradict but to counsell him and therefore said My deare Ornatus my dutie bindeth me to consent but my loue willeth me to denie feare of your mishap maketh mée vnwilling but will to fulfill your desire maketh mée giue â—n vnwilling consent onely let me request this that you will take Phylastes in your company and leaue me to the custodie of my seruants whose fidelitie I am assured of for hauing him with you hiâ— aidâ— and counsell may much auaile to preserue your life which if you loose as heauens forbid with the same shal mine expire for if so impossible Artesia should breathe Ornaâ—us being breathlesse Ornatus with a fewe teares that by excéeding griefe were wroong from his heart participated her laments First requesting the seruants to be carefull of her good and then without delaye both furnishing himselfe and Phylastes with rich armor and horse of which there was great choyce in that Castle and for that the day began to appeare they thought it time to depart least their comming from thence might be discouered There might one behold sorrow at parting in his right forme hart-breaking sighes breathing sad Farewels and sorrowfull teares at so sad a parting when their lippes were parted their hands still fast their hands disioynd then their voyces oftentimes vttering that woful word Farewell and when they were past hearing their eyes vnwillingly leauing each others sight he being without looking backe and shée within looking after so long as she could perceiue the glimering glance of his bright armor and he being pass sight of her with watry eyes beholding the place of her abode thus parted they as if they had parted neuer to méete Drawing nigh the armies they beheld them met and in hot skirmish standing still a good space to sée to whether partie it was likely the victorie would incline and in the ende they beheld the Armenians begin to retrait and Lenon with Thaeon his Father in the midst of the throng making excéeding slaughter and proud of their déemed conquest which set Ornatus heart on fire that hée rusht amongst the thickest of his Countrey men yet not once offering a blow nor sheading a drop of the bloud he loued but onely making way to come to Lenon which made them not offer to staye his passage but admiring what he was let him goe frée after whom Phylastes hasted The Souldiers séeing those two newe come Knightes offende none admired what they should be not one of them all offering a blow because they offered none By this time Ornatus was come to the place where Lenon was who euen then not before had met Allinus betwixt whom many blowes and some woundes were giuen and receiued but Allinus had the worst by reason of his age Ornatus knowing his Father by his armour came betwixt them with his sword drawne saying Lenon staye thy hand let age goe frée and let thy youth cope with mée that am come to challenge thée before both the Armies and therefore as thou art the Kings Son a knight and honorest arms giue order by thy Herault to staye the furie of the Battailes till thou and I haue tryed our valours otherwise this Knight and I haue vowed to huht thée from place to place and neuer giue ouer vntil wée haue spilt thy bloud Lenon hearing this Champions proud challenge sayd If thou art a knight a gentleman as I am and canst shewe wherein I haue wronged thee I will answere thée otherwise knowe that I scorne thée although I know my selfe of sufficient strength to abate thy haughty presumption were it neuer so great With that two heraults were sent from either General to part the souldiers which done Ornatus before the open assembly said Lenon first I saye I am a Gentleman as absolute and as good as thy selfe Prince I am none neither
the rest of that night in coÌ„fused contrarieties of doubtful thoughts Early in the morning shee gat vp and within short time met with Adellena who was come as desirous to know what issue her deuise had taken and â—â—ading occasion fitte when none was by she vttered these spéeches Adellena I maruell what follie ruleth your minde that you whom I had thought had bene vertuously giuen should séeke my ruine wherein haue I showne my selfe so vnkinde that you should requite me in this discourteous sort You remember the spéeches past betwixt vs the other day in the Gardein when I finding out your intent by your spéeches desired you to giue ouer to vse any more talke to that effect which you faithfully promised but now most vnfaithfully haue broken and more impudently haue betraied my quiet with your disquiet ill sounding news if your rudenesse had beene such that you could not desist you might then haue deliuered Ornatus false and fained inchauntment into my hands and not so secretly haue conueyed the same into my Casket wherein you haue made me amendes for my loue to séeke to betray my life into the hands of mine enemy for otherwise I neither can nor will estéeme him Therefore henceforwards come no more into my coâ—pany for I forsweare your familiaritie hate your counsell and wil cause my father to banish you his house and alienate his friendship from you for euer Adellena would haue answered but Artesia refusing to hear her departed and left her so much gréeued that for extream vexation she immediately departed towards her owne house CHAP. IIII. How Ornatus dispairing left his fathers house and disguising himselfe was entertained of Arbastus ORnatus desirous to heare how Artesia had accepted his Letter came to Adellenaes house and found her wéeping for anger desiring to know the cause thereof which shée declared to him at large which wrought suche an excéeding passion of griefe in his mind that without yéelding her either thaÌ„ks for her paines or other spéech hée departed being so much ouercome with inward sorrow that finding a solitarie place hée laide himselfe downe vpon the earth vttering these lamentations O miserable castiffe what haste thou to do but lament when thy ill fortune yéelds nothing but cause of lament Why shoulde thy life last to endure these tormentes and not rather to dissolue into vnséene essences Could any thing haue happened to mée more miserable then to beholde Artesia and now to endure her crueltie or more fortunate if shée had bene mercifull But my Destenies haue drawne mée to like her that hateth mée and to become thrall to a cruell vnrelenting enemie Well my loue is swéeter then my life and therefore I wil venture life and all to purchase her liking Hauing said this hée a while sat silent when suddeinly to fauour his extremities hée behelde certaine of his familiars passe by with whome he departed home Earely the next morning being excéedingly troubled in minde and impatient of delaie hee lâ—st his fathers house to visite Adellena againe whome hée had the day before left so vnkindly whome hee founde readie to goe to Arbastus house againe saluting her saide Adellena bée not offended at my last vnmannerly departure for my hearte was so muche disquietted at the ill successe my sute tooke that I coulde not vse that behauiour towardes you your paines deserued but nowe I am returned to craue your counsell what is further to bée done herein Syr replied shée I know not what further meanes to vse neither dare I any more attempt to trie Artesias curtesie who is alreadie so much offended with me that I feare to loose her friendship for euer if I should vtter that againe that is so vnwelcome to her Ornatus hearing her spéeches thought shée was vnwilling to prosecute his sute any further with a heauie hearte left her entering into many thoughtes and cogitations which way to comfort himselfe Oftentimes vtterly dispairing and yet purposing to leaue no meanes vnassaied nor daunger vnattempted though with hazarde of his life to purchase some rest to his troubled heart At length hée thought with himselfe what should make Artesia so hard hearted as to giue no credit to my spéeches it is not her want of lenitie pittie or wisedome for shée is yong and therefore subiect to loue bewtifull and therefore to bée wonne wise and therefore wil with consideration pittie my sorrowes What then should alienate her good liking from mee more then from an other My Name for by that shée reputeth mée an enemie then were I not Ornatus she woulde peraduenture giue some regard to my sutes Therefore I will chaunge my name and bée an other then I am that shée not knowing mée may if not loue mée yet disist to hate mée then beganne hee to studie what meanes to vse to enioy her sight without the which hée could not liue and yet not be knowne what he was Amongst many other deuises this tooke déepest roote Within fewe dayes after hauing prouided all things necessary he attired himselfe like a virgine of a straunge Countrey which hée might well be esteemed to be by his youth And taking with him his Lute whereon he could play excéedingly well in the silent of the night he departed towards the sea coast which was neare vnto Arbastus house and seating himselfe vpon the Rockie shoare beganne to play vpon his Lute Early the next morning a shepheard happened to passe by that way and espying his straunge disguise and hearing his swéete Musicke was so excéedingly delighted therewith that he stayed to sée what he was Ornatus turning himselfe about espied the olde man stand gazing vpon him wherewith he drew towardes him and saide as followeth Good Father muse not to sée me in this vnfrequented place being by shipwrack cast on this shore and preserued from a gréeuous death by sea to perish for want of comfort on the land in a straunge place where I neither haue friendes nor know which way to get comfort Therefore I beséech you yéeld comfort to my distresse and succour â—o my want Faire Damosell quoth the shepheard if my homely Cottage can yeeld you any comfort so please you to accept therof it shal be at your command whither so please you go without more circumstance of spéeches you shall be most hartily welcome I thanke you quoth Ornatus and I accept your gentle proffer so they departed togither And when they were entered and the shâ—pheardesse in the best maner she could had welcomed him and he had tasted of such foode as was set before him hée tolde them his name was Syluia and telling a tale of sufficient countenance to beare credite of the maner of their shipwracke and the cause he vndertooke that voyage by Sea Which the olde folkes beléeued Likewise framing himselfe to such a kinde of behauiour that it was almost â—mpossible to discerne but that he was a woman indéede Where Syluia for vnder that name he shall a while passe staied some two
as no torment nor affliction shall alter Therefore I beséech you let me receiue some hope of comfort by your gentle spéeches which shall expell many cares from my troubled heart Syluian had much adoo to abstaine from smiling to thinke how vnfit he was so yéeld such a reward as Floretus expected committing further consideration thereof to time more conuenient gaue him this answere My minde sir is vnapt to entertaine loue considering how farre I am from my countrey and how soone I may bée ouertaken therefore I pray you séeke not that at my hands which I wil not graunt but if with your fauour I may liue so quietly as since my comming I haue done I shal thinke my selfe more beholding to you for that then for your porfered loue which I cannot yéelde vnto Floretus thinking her soft answere was a signe she would soone yéeld stil prosecuted his sute with earnestnesse in so much thâ—t Syluian tolde him that as yet she could not fancie him because shée had no triall of him but that she would consider further thereof And so for that time they parted Floretus in hope to attaine that which was not to bee had and Syluian in hope by this meanes the sooner to attaine Artesias loue First considering that Floretus had the disposing of her and therefore he must please him least otherwise he might bée depriued of her company Then he began to thinke of Arbastus murther knowing assuredly that it was not acted by his fathers counsel but rather by some secret foe that might as well bée Floretus as any other for that hée was the next heire if Artesia hindred him not which conceit tooke such effectuall instance in his fancie that with that his suspect beholding Floretus behauiour countenance and little inquiry for the murtherer he plainly inspected him which by the diuine prouidence rather then by any euident proofe was stirred in his opinion Such murther is neuer vnreuealed and though neuer so closely done yet God by some extraordinary meanes or other reuealeth the same So came it to passe with Ornatus although hée was no war priuie to any such act or had any probabilitie thereof yet hée thought that Floretus countenaunce bewrayed his treacherie and therefore hée longed to haue some conference with him to sée if hée could gather the truth whereby he thought both to discharge himselfe of that suspect Artesia had of him and also when shée sawe his innocencie and constancie she might yéelde to loue him purposing to leaue no meanes vnattempted to trie him which he did the next time be spake with him in this sort Eâ—rly the next morning Floretus not vnmindfull of his loue which kept him from his sléepe that night neuer left till bée had found Syluian and comming to her with manifolde submisse spéeches sollicited his sute whom Syluian cunningly handled stil putting him in hope and yet making him no promise which set him the more on fire being so farre ouergone with affection that hee purposely determined eyther to win her loue or hazard his owne life and to leaue no meaneâ— vnattempted were it neuer so dangerous to procure his owne content That the more vnwilling he saw Syluian the more importunate hee grew Till at last Syluian sayd as followeth Floretus I know no reason you haue to bee so importunate when I sée in you no token of fidelitie but once hauing attained your purpose you will esteeme mee as lightly as easily woon besides I see not wherein you can performe any such matter as you promise for I beeing in a strange countrey haue nothing and you for ought I sée as little then by matching with you I shall but bring my selfe to pouertie and miserie and then your loue now so hotte wil be as colde and I as reiected cast off to vtter miserie Floretus not suffering her to procéed any further made this answere Syluian do you not sée Aâ—bastus wealth wil not the bée sufficient the great possessions I now enioy by him are of substance to maintaine you in all quiet and yeeld you your heartes content Arbastus wealth said Syluian that is Aâ—tesiaes by right then how can you possesse the same she liuing Doo but graunt me loue sayd he and I will quicklie satisfie you in that I haue a meane to get â—ll into mine owne hands and therefore I beséech you let no such matter trouble your minde but be assured that in enioying me you shal haue al happinesse and quiet by my humble dutifull and constant loyaltie Do but assure mee of this quoth Syluian and you shall knowe my resolution afterwards Artesia entring the chamber brake off their spéeches whose presence vexed Floretus at the heart beeing scarce able to speake by reason of his inward rancor for indéed hee hated Artesia because she onely kept him from possessing his brothers liuing the want whereof kept him from attaining Syluians loue therefore he resolued by some meanes to worke her downefall which within short time he acquainted Syluian withall by this occasion One day finding her alone in a secret place in the garden after many spéeches past betwixt them whereby hée perceiued the chiefest things that hindred him was his want of wealth and after that Syluian had in some sort made him a grant onely to trie him he began to vtter his intent in this sorte My deare Syluian I am so well perswaded of your vertue and put such confidence in your trustinesse that I wil reueale to you the very depth and secrets of my heart would you but sweare to kéepe my counsell for to purchase your content I haue determined to put in practise a matter of secrecie which concerneth my life to bée reuealed Syluian hearing that thought it better to sweare a thousand oathes and breake them all then by nicenesse to indanger the life of Artesia which she supposed he aymed at promised him by many protestations to kéepe secret whatsoeuer he tolde her wherevppon Floretus vrged with hope to win her loue and imboldned in mischief cared not what he did to attain his wil said as followeth Syluian you sée Arbastus is dead which was one stop that kept me from inioying great possessions and my purpose is so you wil but vouchsafe to ayde me therrin to be ridde of Artesia and then all that belongeth to her by her fathers death shall bee yours to dispose of Syluians heart throbde to heare his spéeches but determining to sift him to the full said as followeth Floretus I am sure you speake this onely to trie me and so intrap me and not of any intent you haue to performe the same wherein you shall doo me great wrong and your selfe no good for I cannot beléeue you beare the least thought to do it By heauen quoth hee it is my full intent and for that you may be assured thereof it was I that slew Arbastus howsoeuer the matter is imputed to Allinus and purpose likewise to be rid of Artesia onely for your sake
the same Ornatus was glad of this poore shifte and still cast downe one Apple and then another that in the ende he had almost throwne away all and notwithstanding that feared to be destroyed but the Boore féeling his belly full and his hunger stauncht left off his egar pursute and followed him more cearelesly whom he still fedde with Apples so long as his store lasted that in the ende the Boore being drunke with the pleasant fruite began to réele and stagger and lying downe fast a sléepe which Ornatus séeing hauing no other then a knife about him with the same approached the Boore and without feare violently thrust the same so déepe into the Boores briffled side that it pearced his heart and he after some strugling died Ornatus then helde vp his hands to heauen for ioy excéedingly applauding this his fortunate and vnexpected escape which he tooke as a fortunate presage of good successe But yet before he could determine what to doo Fortune once againe showed her mutabilitie for when Ornatus had parted the Boores head from his huge bodie and with the same was readie to depart there past by as it seemed a knight gallantly mounted in gréen armor who espying a woman bearing the Boores head drew towards her and said Woman where hadst thou that Boores head I pray thée deliuer it me Ornatus made this answere Sir I néed not doo either vnlesse I know more cause then as yet I doo The Knight hearing that short answere alighted and saide I will shewe no other reason but that I will haue it with that he beganne to striue for the same but Ornatus hauing more minde to his sword then to keepe the Boores head suddenly caught holde on the Natalians sword and drew the same out which when he had gotten he said Disloyall and discourteous Knight now wil I kéepe the Boores head in despight of thée with that hee thrust at him and contrary to his thought wounded him so déepe that he leâ—t him for dead wishing that he had not done that déed but not knowing how discurteously he would haue vsed him let passe all further remorse and casting off his womans apparell put on the Knights apparell and Armour mounted the stéede and with the Boores head roads backe the same way hée sawe the Knight come and within a little space found a beaten way that conducted him to a goodly Towne whose Turret toppes he sawe long before hée came to the same then began hée to studie what to doe sometimes thinking it best not to enter into the Towne from whence it is likely the Knight hée slewe came and so he béeing taken for him might bée knowne and so afterwards indaungered for his death For peraduenture the Knight might be of good estimation and of purpose sent to slay the Boore and if it should be knowne that he had slain him his friends would for the same and the rather for that he was a straunger prosecute sharpe reuenge against him Whilst he was in these meditations he came neare the Towne not fully resolued what to doo where he was soone espied of some of the people who séeing the Boores head came running towards him making excéeding ioy which when he saw he thought it too late to turne back but that he must go on and hazard the worst and being entred the Towne a number of the Inhabitants flocked about him some with garlands some with praises and all with ioy vttering these spéeches Welcome home most braue Alprinus Ornatus then perfectly knew that the Knights name was Alprinus and went of purpose to â—lea the Boore whome they tooke him to be and that he must of necessitie be knowne which draue him into excéeding care what excuse to make to auoide the danger of death Then presently he beheld a troope of bewtifull Damosels with the sowndes of swéete Musicke comming towards him amongst whom one as chiefe and more bewtifull then the rest was crowned with a wreathe of flowers bearing another in her hand who all at once applauded his victorie dancing before him vntill he came into the middest of the Towne where satte the chiefe Magistrates where the Damosell that was crowned thus spake to him Syr Alprinus your conquest hath released these Inhabitants of care extolled thy fame preserued thy life and wonne me for thy Loue. You haue well performed the talke you vndertooke and according to your desert I come to Crowne you with these flowers and to yéelde my selfe as yours for euer Ornatus hearing her spéeches thought to trie the end of this aduenture which could be no worse then death which of force he must now hazard alighted laying downe the Boores head vpon a Table that stood before the Auncients with humble and comely behauiour kissing the Damoselles hande who set the wreathe of Flowers vpon his head and taking him by the hand brought him before the Auncients one of whome stoode vp and said Worthie Gentleman whereas before thou wert by vs adiudged to die as worthie thereof for this thy valiant déed we fréely pardon thee and acquite thée from all trespasses that thou host commited against any whomsoeuer vntill this present houre And taking the Damosell by the hand saide Lucida according to thy desire and his desert I yéelde thée vp to be his wife And Gentleman quoth he take her as thine owne as freely as she was by birth adopted mine and after my death be thou inheritour of my land To all this Ornetus gaue a reuerent consent and the night now approaching he with Lucida went to her fathers house where was a great feast prouided from which Ornatus excused himselfe in this sort When he was entred the house being still Armed only lifting vp his Beuer he tooke Lucida by the hand and withdrawing her aside said Lucida I nowe finde your loue to bée infallible and your constancie to excell all women that I haue knowne and that Alprinus is so farre indebted vnto you as that he shall neuer might hée liue a thousande yeares bee able to recompence this inestimable fauour of your loue which hath preserued my vnworthie life from destruction But notwithstanding your Loue Alprinus his debt is so great as can no way bée gratified I request one further fauour at your handes wheron my chéefest felicitie dependeth yea my life your loue and perpetuall good which I feare to vtter lest you should misconceiue the same there being nâ— other thing to hinder the content Alprinus séeketh but onely your fauourable consent so banish all mistrust of my faith Lucida maruelled at his spéeches indéed louing him so well that she would haue spilt her owne blood for his sake saying Alprinus what neede you make doubt of my consent to any thing whatsoeuer it be for your sake knowe you not howe faithfull I haue continued â—hough you slue my onely brother and that I estéemed your loue farre dearer then his life and when you should haue died for that déed obtained this
but dying thou art past hope With that she departed smiling Artesia hearing her spéeches beganne to consider indéede what follie it was to refuse her meate and for feare to shorten her selfe by distemperating her selfe which might bee the meanes to further Lenons intent whome shee knewe would seeke her life if hée coulde not winne her loue shée presently left off suche desperate behauiour and with well wayed consideration attended the euent of the worst misfortune that from that time shee both eate her meate and did all that shée coulde to comfort her selfe still liuing in good hope of Ornatus returne Some fewe dayes after Lenon came to the Fortresse againe enquiring of Flera howe Artesia faâ—ed Well quoth shee but you willed mee to conceale that it was your dooing to bring her hither and some bodie else hath tolde her thereof for shée knoweth the truth as well as your selfe or I and therefore I would wishe you to visite her and after that let me alone to perswade her Lenon was ruled by the olde woman and came where Artesia was saluting her but shée disdaining either to looke on him or heare him speake withdrewe her selfe from his presence Wherewith hée departed willing Flera to doo that which shée had vndertaken And Flera finding her as shée thought in a fit moode beganne to commune with her of many thinges amongst which loue was one Artesia a while heard her but in the end perceiuing her drift cut her off with these spéeches Olde iniquitie I knowe whereto thy talke tendeth thinkest thou I will euer harbour a thought of Lenon that hath vsed mée thus dishonourably no rather will I rent my wofull heart from out my brest before his face neither néedest thou tell mée that hée hath intreated thee to speake for him for I knowe too well both his and thy intent which shall nothing preuaile but harden my heart against him Therefore doo not speake to me for I will not heare thée nor answere thée but hate him thée and thy counsell and remaine so constant in despising him that a thousand deathes shall not alter mée Is it loue that hath made him with violence carrie me from my friendes make me a prisoner and commit me to the custodie of such a hellishe hagge as thy selfe If that be his loue let him turne it to hatred and neuer trouble me but with hating me for in so dooing he shall better please me Often Flera would haue replied but Artesia would not suffer her that shee beganne to wâ—xe angrie and in the ende to plaine furie that running to Artesia she caught holde on her and beganne to teare her garments from her bodie and withall caught sometimes such firme holde on her pure flâ—she with her nayles that the blood followed that Artesia began to crie and shrike for feare and smart When the olde Beldame had executed some part of her intended reuenge and crueltie vpon her in this sort shee saide Proud girle thinkest thou to beare it away with out-facing mée No do not thinke I will leaue thée thus but thou shalt repent that euer thou commest héere and before I goe I will haue my â—â—inde of thée then puld shée out a knife and catching holde on her swore that vnlesse she would promise to vse Lenon kindly when hée next came shée would cut her throate which drane Artesia into that feare that shée began to intreate her and speake faire promising to condiscend to any thing that agreed to her honour Stand not vpon those nice tearmes with mée quoth Flera but here sweare to yéeld to loue him for so thou maiest delay him and frustrate his hopefull expectation whom thou art not woorthie to touch much lesse to beare such a presuming minde as thou doest in scorne of his loue Therefore yéelde to that which I request or stand to my mercy Canst thou bestowe thy loue better then on so honourable a Prince Canst thou attaine more dignitie reape more content or enioy more quiet with any then with him Then do not denie mee for I purpose not to be denied Artesia trembling for feare made this answere onely to satisfie her I am contented to bée ruled by Lenon whose meaning I knowe is honourable Therefore I pray do not offer mée this ouâ—rage but suffer me to liue in quiet vntil his comming If this will not satisfie you then do the worst you can for death is more welcome to mée then life in these extremities Well quoth shée I will trie you but if you dally beware what will ensue for I am resolued what to doo Artesia was glad shée had satisfied her though it were with vttering words which shée neuer intended to performe Adellena séeing how suddenly Artesia was taken from her caused one of her seruants priuilie to followe them to the gréene Fortresse who returning tolde her what he had séene Then Adellena began to studie how to release her from thence and with all haste rode to Allinus house where being arriued she declared al that shee knew as concerning Ornatus and how Lenon had carried Artesia by violence into the gréene Fortresse Allinus being glad to heare that Ornatus was aliue promised to redéeme Artesia from Lenons custodie and that to effâ—ct the next euening caused his men to mount themselues and himselfe with some fiâ—e of them disguised from being knowne came to the greene Fortresse and one of them knocking whilest the other hid themselues the seruants little suspecting any such ambush or intent opened the gate when presently they rushed in and soone found out Artesia whome Allinus told who he was and to what intent hée came Artesia was glad thereof and willingly yeelded to go with him but the olde woman made such an outcrie that all the place rung thereof one of Allinus seruants seeing shée would not bée pacified drew his sword and thrust it through her bodie and so with a yelling crie shée gaue vp the ghoast Then presently Allinus departed with her intending to carry her to his owne house to kéepe her there vnknowne vntil he could heare of Ornatus And remembring that the two seruants were fled and would no doubt certifie Lenon what was done would not go backe the same way hée came though the readiest for then hée thought hee should méete them but went a more secret way thinking by that means to passe vnséene and entring into the plaines where cattell fed Allinus espied a company comming towards them whom hée presently suspected to be Lenon which in reason he could not thinke but that feare perswaded him thereto the company likewise espying them who were certaine Pyrates that were wandred from their shippes to steale cattel wondred what they should be that were so late abroad and being readie to any mischiefe set vpon Allinus and his company who thinking it had bene Lenon would by no meanes yéeld nor speake fearing he should descrie them but resisted the Pyrates who being vsed to many such méetings soone slew two of Allinus seruants and
whome Ornatus knewe not howe to hide himselfe and Artesia not so much as thinking Lenon had bene in it but that it was some ship that likewise by the storme was driuen to lande there Presently the men beganne to spredde themselues euery way and some of them soone espied Artesia giuing Lenon knowledge thereof who immediately came towardes her most kindely saluting her but shée beeing excéedingly dismayed with his sight whome shée most mortally hated for verie griefe burst into teares that in aboundance gusht from her eyes Lenon maruelling thereat and little thinking howe much shée hated him and how vnwelcome he was rather expecting thankes for his paines then reproofe said My deare Artesia bee not now discomforted since there is no further cause of care I haue most diligently laboured to release you from griefe euer since Allinus by treason conueyed you from my custodie taking your absence in great heauinesse for that it pinched my heart to thinke you shoulde fall into suche distresse but nowe that all those misfortunes are past I beseech you goe with mée to the Court where I will labour to procure your content Artesias heart was vexed to heare his speeches that she made him this answere Most discurteous Lenon none but your selfe are cause of my woe whose sight more tormenteth mée then all the afflictions I euer endured Allinus carried me indéed from the gréene Fortresse not by treason but to shelter me from dishonour which you did intend else would you not haue inffered mee to endure such miseries as I did by my hellish kéeper Thinke you I haue cause either to thinke you intend my good or take any comfort by your presence when you onely disquiet me not suffering me to enjoy my libertie but would perforce constrain me to that I cannot like Had you left me in Adellenas house then had I not fallen into such miseries as since that I haue endured nor Allinus for his vertue haue bene brought to pouertie that being before my professed enemie séeing my miserie it so mollified his heart that he hath pittied me and sought my libertie and onely by crueltie not by iustice haue you sought his ouerthrow Then I beseech you leaue me here for I had rather indure the hazard of my misfortune then liue to be tormented with your importunacie Lenon was so amazed to heare her vnkind reply litle thinking he had bene so much out of her fauour that he could not tel what to say sometimes thinking to leaue her there and vtterly to forsake her but that thought was soone ouercome by his affection or violent sting of desire to enioy her loue that once againe he said Why Artesia doo you regard my good will no more then for my paines to yéelde me rebukes and for my loue disdaine That I caused you to be brought from Adellenas house was for that being there you were subiect to many misfortunes And if I imprisoned Allinus it was for that I supposed him your enemy and feared he would haue done you wrong so that whatsoeuer I did with intent of good you repay me with dislike conuert all my doings to the worst meaning wherein you shewe your selfe too cruell that will not yéeld me the least fauour for my constant loue O Artesia be not so hard hearted Artesia notwithstanding many faire promises vowes and protestations he made would not yéeld to go with him but desired rather that he would leaue her there Lenon tolde her though not for his sake yet for her safetie it were best for her to goe which said he commaunded his seruants to place her in a Litter Which when shée sawe shée must néedes doo shee called to Ornatus saying Good Palmer go along with mée that for the kindnesse you haue showen in preseruing my life I may yéeld you some recompence And quoth shée to Lenon I request nothing of you for my selfe but for this straunge Pilgrim who when by the storme the ship was cast away I readie to perish caught me out of the water and preserued my life and do not for his good will to me vse him as you did my deare Syluian whom you banished for that she preserued my life from my vnkind vnckle with that shee wept excéedingly Then Lenon asked Ornatus what hée was I am quoth hée as you see a Pilgrim that was forced to come aboord the Pyrates ship and amongst the rest was readie to perish but that by the diuine prouidence I was ordained to preserue that vertuous Damosels life For that déede quoth Lenon I will reward you most kindly therefore go along with vs. Then they all departed to the Court Lenon presently caused Artesia to bée lodged in a most sumptuous place of the Court appointing diuers Damsels to attend her thinking by those meanes to win her to consent to loue him but all proued vaine his care was cast away his cost to little effect and his kindnesse vnregarded For Artesia was so constant to Ornatus that shée hated Lenon her heart was wholly imployed to wish his good and Lenons ill For she determined neuer to loue him though shee were assured of Ornatus death that she spent her time in continuall care sadnesse shewing no signe of ioy no shewe of comfort but euen as one that regarded no rest nor tooke felicitie in any thing that Lenon both admired the same and laboured by many meanes to alter that humour but the more hée sought to please her the more she was displeased and more discontented at his kindnesse then any thing else In this sort she continued many dayes without the least shewe of alteration Ornatus all this while remaining in the Court making the cause of his state to receiue Lenons promised reward whereas indéed he staied to sée what would become of Artesia or by what meanes to get her from thence To effect which he sawe no possible meanes nor could in many dayes come to sée Artesia which filled his heart with griefe only comforted himselfe with remembring her constant loyaltie And one day being by himselfe alone hée entered into these cogitations Ornatus thou hast remained many dayes in this place kept from thy Loue and sought no meanes to set thy heart at rest or her at libertie Doost thou make no more account of her loue then to attempt nothing to attaine the same or are thy spirits of no more courage then they will do nothing thy wit so shallow thou canst deuise no stratagem◠or thy mind so cowardly thou darest not reuenge the wrong Lenon doth shée What though hée be the Prince and heire of this land is not both hée and his father hated ruling by vsurpation and with crueltie not with iustice hath sought the downe-fall of thy house Can Artesia thinke either valour or vertue to rest in thée when shée shall know how neare thou art her soe but darest not touch him will shée not estéeme shee a coward and vnworthie to enioy her loue Nay when shée knoweth this will
to your selfe and me and my fathers safetie are reasons sufficient to perswade your consent besides many other causes more forcible then these too tedious to recite Then I beséech you denie me not for when it shall be knowne that my father was in armor in the field and I in this place not regarding to aide him it wil turne to my great dishonour and those which before did estéeme well of me will then begin to hate me then let not your doubt and true loue to me hinder my determination for on that mine honour your safetie and my fathers life dependeth Artesia seeing shee could by no meanes disswade him thought not to let him depart so suddenly but claâ—ping her tender armes about his necke a thousands times kist his lippes whilest with her abundant teares shee bedeawed his manly cheekes Ornatus tooke great sorrow at her heauinesse and delight in her imbracings that the contrarieties of his conceits were excéeding pleasure it selfe séeming more pleasant intermingled with care and care a pleasure to be endured with such delight Artesia was loath to let Ornatâ—s depart that night for that shée déemed hée should be in daunger the next â—ay and hée as vnwilling to leaue her in sorrowe shee on the one side sollacing her selfe in his company and hée by her kindenesse making him forget to depart that before they were aware night was come and well spent and Ornatus then bethinking himselfe thought it was too late to depart And Artesia hearing him make a motion to be gone desired him to staye And yet my deare Ornatus quoth she doe not you indaunger your selfe for my sake for should Lenons seruants finde you heere it might redoâ—nd to our great disquiet Ornatus likewise well considering the inconuenience tooke his leaue of her and left her sheadding aboundance of teares Ornatus being gone found the seruants awake and watching his comming out one of them saying Pilgrim what maketh thée so sawcie as to court my Maisters Loue Is this a fitte time of the night to be in her chamber my Lord shall vnderstand your behauiour and what familiaritie is betwixt you wee take you to be some counterfeit else would not such behauiours passe betwixt you as we haue behelde Therefore héere shall you staye vntill we giue him knowledge of your dooings and fidelitie with that they lockt fast the doore not suffering him to goe out or in Ornatus by that perceyued that they haâ— seene the kindenesse betwixt him and Aâ—tesia which he knewe if Lenon should vnderstand hee would finde out what he was these thoughts troubled his heart excéedingly that hée was assured vnlesse he could bée rid of them there was no meanes to escape death if Lenon should knowe him With these studies hee sat a good while silent till hee perceiued them inclinde to sleepe and casting his eye aside espied a bill hanging by the wall to which hee stole secretly and taking hold of the same he drew towards them entring into these meditations And shall I now commit murder and indanger my soule by so hainous a sin what will Artesia say if she know thou art so bloodily bent and that thy heart is so hard as to shead thine own countrey mens blood Ornatus be wel aduised before thou do this déed and bethink of some other meane auoid the danger thou art readie to fall into Other meanes Ornatus yea but what other meanes hast thou none at all dost thou not sée how they haue betrayed thee and made thée prisoner what then needest thou make a question to saue thy selfe and by their deathes preserue thine owne life which thy liuing will be indangered and being once done thou art safe but by delay thy owne life may perish With that lifting vp his armes with more then woonted force hée smote the one on yâ— head beate out his braines wherewith yâ— other began to awake but in his awaking he strooke him so full on the brest that the bill piearst his heart and hée laye breathlesse sprawling in his gore This done Ornatus fouÌ„d a vawâ—e and into the same hée coÌ„ueied their dead bodies purposing neuer to reueale what he had don Then returning he bethought himself of the keies of the dores that hee had thrown into that vawte with their bodies deuising how to get out without suspition of the deed he had done yâ— hée was inforced to take the bill by maine force and often striuing wroong asunder the locks His minde being excéedingly affrighted with these cares he entred into Artesias chaÌ„ber to sée whether he had disquieted her or no with the noise her he fouÌ„d in bed fast a sleep with the light still burning by her-beds side her brest vncouered downe to the waste and nothing to shrowde her from his perfect view but the single sheete that say carelesly cast ouer her tender bodie her armes câ—st to either side of the bed and her head leaning on the one side with so sweete an aspect as would haue rauished a thousand beholders Ornatus heart was reuiued to behold this swéet sight that the remembrance therof had bannished all remembrance of his troubles past and affected his heart with incomparable delight that he stood like one amazed to behold her swéet beawtie and to take a surfetting viewe of those her perfections so amiably faide forth Artesia sodainly awaking blusht to see him so nie yet therwith more comforted then dismayed she caught the clothes and couered her selfe whilest hée folding his hand in hers desired pardon for his boldnesse but she viewing him well behelde his pale and gastly countenance which draue her into feare and raysing her selfe vpright in her bed caught him in her armes asking what he ayled to looke so pale Mâ— deare Artesia quoth hée since I parted from you I haue endured great danger past through â— hell of calamities which now I feare not With that he let his head fall into her sweete bosome and there made the period of his spéeche feeling her tender heart pant with the motions of her troubled spirits In which pallace hée rested it a good while whilest she with her soft hand curled his haire and with swéet kisses mollified his lips Vsing many other familiarities sweete fauors procéeding from the depth of kinde loue wherwith Ornatus was so rauished that hée not onely took heauenly comfort therin but also desired a further content possession of her loue which he neuer before asked nor thought she wold grant but being hartned by the assurance of her Loue hée vsed more bolde behauiour which shée permitted but at last growing more bolde then shée thought conuenient for her modestie to permit with a kinde and louely behauiour shée both blamed and hindred him but the motions of affection so far preuailed with them both that hée desired and shée inwardlie yeelded though outwardly shée refused but his behauiour her owne Loue the present occasion so fitte opportunitie their hearts vnitie and other sweete enticements
art thou by right but that by tyrannie and vsurpation thou holdest the same I come as Artesias Champion to challenge thée of disloyalty as the outrages thou hast committed by detaining her libertie do manifest I challenge thée for dooing iniustice against Allinus whom thou withholdest from his right by trecherous malice I challenge thée as a partaker of Arbastus death for that thou sufferest and vpholdest his murtherer Floretus that hath deserued death I challenge thée for oppression laid vpon this whole land And lastly for detaining Ornatus liuing who neuer was impeached of treason and therefore if thou darest answere my challenge I am here readie otherwise I here pronounce thée for a coward a miscreant not worthie to beare Armes Lenon made this replie Being accused by a straunger without cause I regarde it not and béeing iudge my selfe will not by thée be adiudged but for thy proude challenge I will answere thée as little regarding what thou canst doo as thou boastingly dost vaunt of thy valor Therefore euen now before I deport I will without delay abate thy haughtinesse though thy accusations are manifestly false for I both loue and esteeme Artesia as deerely as I doe my selfe my title to the Crowne is iust for Allinus hee is both a traitor at home and abroade first in causing his compâ—ices to séeke my fathers life and lastlie for bringing these Armenian bands to destroye the Countrey For Floretus pardon it is mercie not iniustice As for oppression done to Ornatus all knowe I neuer iniuried him but if hée take the Iustice that is done to his traiterous father as done to him I cannot helpe that but reuenge it thou since thou art his Champion Ornatus had much adoo to stay to heare out his speeche which galled him to the very heart that without speaking a word more hee smote at Lenon and Lenon with courage answered his blowes beginning a most flerce and forceable incounter and with like furie continuing the same til both had receiued many wounds and their steeds beganne to be furious and madde with the smart of some strokes that mist their ayme Ornatus calling to remembrance first the iniuries he had receiued and that Lenon none else could dispossesse him of Artesias Loue and many other wrongs he had done him and his parents thought nowe to reuenge them all and dispossesse Thaeon of the Crowne by Lenons death reuiued his spirits with such courage that he began with renewed strength to assaile Lenon who euen then began to fainte would haue yeelded but that shame withheld him Which when Ornatus perceiued hée thought at once to ende the strife that with one forceable blow hée gaue him so deâ—p a wound on the right arme where the Armour was broken away that bee let fall his sworde and fell sencelesse on his horse necke Thaeon perceiuing his sonne in that danger with his guard came rushing in rescued him from Ornatus sword which otherwise had pâ—rted his head from his bodie With this both the Armies ioyned battel againe the Armenians with new courage rushing vpon their enemies whose hearts began to faile seeing Lenon so neer death which made such a confusion among theÌ„ that they were readier to flie or yeeld to Allinus theÌ„ to fight it out that on a sodain the ArmeniaÌ„s had slaine an infinit number of them all the earth was dyed to a purple colour with their blood Oâ—natus heart was vexed to see so much of his Countres blood shead that hee intreated Phylastes to perswade the Souldiers to giue ouer and himselfe rode betwixt the two Armies with a Herault desiring them to staie their furie for a while Long it was before they would giue ouer but at last by the Drums and Trumpet sound hauing called backe the Armenians Ornatus placing himselfe in the midst of his Countrey men that a multitude might heare him said Renowned people of Phrygia heare my spéech that am tormenmented to sée so much of your blood shead the effusion whereof I séeke by all meanes to stop hauing as you sée for the loue I beare to you not lifted my hand against any of you but onely Lenon the causes that vrge me to challenge him is the manifest wrongs he and his father hath done to your selues this Countrey and all the Nobilitie for the true testimony whereof let euery one inwardly examime his owne conscience and they will not deny my words but finde themselues exceedingly gréeued with his oppression Doo you not sée what destruction he hath brought vpon this land Are not almost all the Nobilitie slaine and destroyed Are not your liberties goods and friends taken from you Is not the whole land in an vproare and euery one driuen from his quiet at home to venture his life in the fielde and all this for satisfaction of his will and selfe commaund not grounded vpon lawe nor iustice Examine your consciences is he your lawfull King did he not murther your lawfull King onely to make you his vassels Againe doth Allinus séeke to do his Countrey wrong doth hée come to oppresse you doth hée séeke to abuse your libertie No hée onely commeth to claime his possessions by iniustice taken from him he commeth as vrged by griefe not to liue as a banished man being himselfe his wife children and familie driuen to liue in miserie and slauerie for the satisfaction of his Lust. Then I beséech you good souldiers consider well what you do whom you defend a traytor and whom you resist a deare friend that loueth and tendereth your liues as deare as his owne whose estate the Armenians pitie to whome he was neuer gratious but his own Countrey mens harts are hardned against him repaying crueltie for his loue and resistance to withhold his right I could alledge so many reasons to disswade you from following Thaeons will as would aske a tedious recital but I know you are oâ— wisedome to conceiue the right your hearts mercifull to pittie him and your mindes apt to doe Iustice then giue him ouer discharge your mindes of care and disburthen your selues of his oppression I stand héere as an Aduocate to pleade for Allinus right that hath indured too much wrong I stand héere as Aâ—tesias Champion that is imprisoned by Lenon abused by Lenon and withhelde from her libertie by Lenon I stand here to intreat you saue your owne liues to preserue your libertie to execute Iustice and to doe Allinus right Then I beseeche you lay aside your armes taken in defence of wrong and turne your hearts to pittie innocencie whereby you shall saue many of your liues shew your selues men that are ruled by wisedome and not by rage and purchase libertie fréedome and peace for euer Then you that beare the true hearts of Phrygians follow me and giue ouer to follow that vsurper and staye such ruines and destructions as are like to ensue by your refusall and let the rightfull heire possesse the Crowne who will loue you cherish you